Rolling machines

ABSTRACT

Roll forming machines are described herein in which an initially cylindrical metal workpiece is squeezed and rolled to shape by being squeezed in a nip between an inner and an outer forming roll. The outer forming roll has a rolling profile such with a cross-sectional plane of maximum diameter which occurs between the two edges of the rolling profile. To enable a shaped workpiece to be removed after roll forming, the outer forming roll is capable of being split into two parts which coincide at the rolling profile surface with the plane of maximum diameter. Preferably the two parts of the outer forming roll are held firmly together during rolling by a hydraulic ram.

[451 Dec. 24, 1974 ROLLING MACHINES [75] Inventor: Gordon Sidney Connell,

Cheltenham, England [73] Assignee: Formflo Limited, Gloucestershire,

England [22] Filed: June 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 373,702

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 298,198, Oct. 17,

1972, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 19, 1972 Italy 53480/72 Oct. 20, 1972 Great Britain 49248/72 [52] US. Cl 72/91, 72/105, 72/110 [51] Int. Cl. B2lb [58] Field of Search 72/91, 105, 110; 29/1484 R, 149.5 R, 149.5 C, 159.1, 159.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 253,355 2/1882 Ecaubert 72/91 965,033 7/1910 Slick 72/91 1,904,734 4/1933 Schlaa 72/91 1,986,072 1/1935 Schlaa 72/91 3,160,036 12/1964 Ernestus 72/91 3,196,651 7/1965 Karrberg et al 72/91 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-James R. Duzan Attorney, Agent, or FirmPollock, Philpitt & Vande Sande [57] ABSTRACT Roll forming machines are described herein in which an initially cylindrical metal workpiece is squeezed and rolled to shape by being squeezed in a nip between an inner and an outer forming roll. The outer forming roll has a rolling profile such with a crosssectional plane of maximum diameter which occurs between the two edges of the rolling profile. To enable a shaped workpiece to be removed after roll forming, the outer forming roll is capable of being split into two parts which coincide at the rolling profile surface with the plane of maximum diameter. Preferably the two parts of the outer forming roll are held firmly together during rolling by a hydraulic ram.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDDEBEMQH SHEET 2 OF PATENTED DEC 2 41974 sum 3 0r 3 ROLLING MACHINES BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION As described in my copending US. application Ser. No. 227799 filed Feb 22nd 1972, now US Pat. No. 3,803,890, cylindrical metal workpieces can be given a profile in their inner facing surfaces by being squeezed between inner and outer forming rolls, the inner forming rolls impressing into the inner facing surface of the blank the profile of, for example, an annular groove so producing an outer bearing ring or race. The outer facing surface of that resulting ring is substantially cylindrical. For some outer bearing rings, however, that outer facing surface may need to have another suitable profile, e.g. a curved profile.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a roll forming machine which can roll a profile into both the inner and outer facing surfaces of a metal workpiece.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a roll forming machine comprising inner and outer rotatable forming rolls which are rotatable during rolling and whose axes of rotation are substantially parallel and are movable transversely relative to one another during rolling so as to form a nip in which the inner and outer facing surfaces of a metal workpiece are arranged to be squeezed to a shape corresponding to the profiles of the inner and outer forming rolls, respectively, the outer forming roll having a profile which includes between its ends a cross-section plane of maximum diameter and being capable of being split into two parts which coincide with the plane of maximum diameter at the rolling surface profile so that, upon completion of roll forming a workpiece, the outer forming roll can be split into its two parts to allow removal of the shaped workpiece.

The two parts of the outer forming roll must be held together very firmly during the rolling operation. This can be achieved by means of a hydraulic ram which presses the two parts of the roll together during rolling. The two parts can alternatively be locked mechanically together during rolling. Thus, for example, cam means can be provided which are advanced by a hydraulic ram to force locking members such as balls into indents where they physically lock the two parts together, the ram itself moving the two parts of the roll together but the locking members serving to keep the parts together during rolling. After rolling the withdrawal of the ram can be used to withdraw th locking members and then separate the two parts. An additional advantage of using a hydraulic ram is that this can be used in the loading of a fresh workpiece by inserting a fresh workpiece into one of the separated parts of the outer forming roll and then closing the two parts together.

Desirably the workpiece should be centrally located relative to the profiles on the two forming rolls and should also be held with its axis substantially parallel to the rotational axes of the forming rolls. This can be achieved quite simply by resiliently holding the workpiece between opposed spring means when the parts of the outer forming rolls are closed together. The opposed pressures exerted by these spring means then automatically centre the workpiece in relation to the forming rolls. In addition these opposed spring means may be used to control the width-wise spread of the workpiece and so ensure that this is consistent from workpiece to workpiece.

The roll forming machine of the invention is particularly, though not exclusively, suitable for the production from cylindrical workpieces of outer bearing rings whose outer facing surfaces have a part-spherical profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE DRAWINGS A roll forming machine according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general diagrammatic view of the ma' chine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational detail; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational detail through amodified machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The roll forming machine 10 shown in the drawings has an inner forming roll 12 and an outer composite forming roll 14 consisting of two parts 16 and 18.

The inner forming roll 12 is rotatably mounted on a rotatable shaft 20 which is driven by means of an electric motor 21 during rolling so as to rotate the roll and a workpiece 22. The motor 21 drives the shaft 20 by means of a pulley wheel 23 and belt 24. The shaft 20 itself is rotatably mounted in a bearing member 25 bolted to a base plate 26 of the machine 10 by means of bearing races 27.

The inner forming roll 12 has a forming profile in the shape of an annular hump 28 to form an annular groove in the workpiece and cylindrical lands 29 on either side of the hump 28. Beyond the lands 29 are flanks 30 which control the shape of the side edges of the workpiece 22.

The outer forming roll 14 has a part spherical profile 31 to give the outer facing surface of the workpiece 22 a part spherical profile. At the plane of maximum diameter of the profile 31 as measured transversely of the rotational axes of the rolls 12 and 14, the roll 14 can be split into the two parts 16 and 18.

The part 16 is held in an outer cylinder 32 which is rotatably mounted by bearings 33 in an outer housing 34. The part 18 is bolted to a rotatable cup-shaped member 35. In turn this member 35 is rotatably journalled around a plunger 36 by means of thrust bearings 38 and roller bearings 40, the plunger 36 being formed on the end of the piston rod 41 of a hydraulic ram 42. The outer housing 34 is in turn connected by spokes 43 to a rear circular plate 44 in which the cylinder 46 of the ram 42 is mounted. In this way, the parts 16 and 18 of the outer forming roll 14 can rotate relative to the hydraulic ram 42.

Resiliently mounted within the bore of the outer part 16 of the roll 14 is flanged cylinder 52. This cylinder can slide axially relative to the part 16 and is fixed to it by bolts 54. Between the heads of these bolts 54 and the flange of the cylinder are belville spring washers 56 which urge the cylinder 52 towards the right as viewed in FIG. 2.

Resiliently mounted with the bore of the outer part 18 of the roll 14 is a cup-shaped cylinder 60. This can similarly slide axially relative to the part 18 and is fixed to the member 35 by bolts 62. Between the cylinder 60 and member 35 are belville spring washers 64 which urge the cylinder 60 towards the left as viewed in FIG.

Between the cylinders 52 and 60 the workpiece 22 is resiliently supported before rolling and the opposed resilient forces of the cylinders centre the workpiece axially within the rolls 12 and 14 before the rolling operation. The cylinder 52 and 60 also exert some control over the width-wise spread of the workpiece during rolling.

The outer housing 34 is slidably mounted on the base plate 26. It has a part 65 which projects through an elongated slot 66 in the base plate 26 and it is constrained to slide along the slot 66 by means of a lower plate 67 bolted by bolts 68 to the part 65. During rolling, the outer roll 14 is moved transversely of its axis in the direction of the arrow 66 (FIG. 1) by means of a hydraulic ram 69 which is fixed to the base plate 26 and whose piston rod 70 is fixed to the outer housing 34. In this way, the rolls 12 and 14 form between themselves a nip in which the workpiece is squeezed by two rolls to shape.

In operation, the piston rod 41 of the ram 42 is with drawn from the position shown in the drawing, taking with it the part 18, the member 35, and plunger 36. A cylindrical workpiece is then placed in the open bore of the roll 14 and the rod 41 advanced to bring the two parts of the roll 14 together to the positions shown in the drawing. As explained above, when the two parts 16 and 18 have been brought together, the cylinders 52 and 60 press against opposite edges of the workpiece 22 and they resiliently centre the workpiece in the axial direction between the rolls l2 and 14.

The two rolls are then rolled in the same direction and the roll 14 is moved transversely of its axis to squeeze the workpiece to shape. The roll 14 may be rotated by frictional engagement between the roll 12 and the workpiece 22 and between the latter and the roll 14 or alternatively a suitable drive (not used) can be used to rotate it before engagement with the workpiece and thereafter this drive can continue or the roll can be kept in rotation by frictional engagement with the workpiece. The roll 12 is of course rotated by the motor 21. Rotation and squeezing are continued until the workpiece reaches its desired shape, in this case an outer bearing ring whose outer-facing surface is part spherical.

At the completion of rolling. the roll 14 is brought back to its initial coaxial position with respect to the inner roll 12 by the ram 69 and the ram 42 operated to withdraw the part 18. Once the roll 14 has been opened in this way the formed workpiece can be removed and the cycle repeated.

As will be appreciated the machine of the invention is relatively simple yet highly effective in rolling to shape parts which have a non-cylindrical profile in both their inner and outer facing surfaces.

In the modified embodiment 100 shown in FIG. 3 the 6 piston 102 of the hydraulic ram is used to push the two parts 16 and 18 of the outer roll 14 together but this force is not used to hold the two parts together during a rolling operation. In most respects the machine is similar to the machine 10 and where appropriate the same reference numerals are used on FIG. 3.

In the machine 100 the part 18 is not rigidly fixed to the member 35 as in the machine 10. Instead a sleeve member 104 is axially slidible within the part 18. It is appreciated that bores 106 and 108 through which bolts 110 and 112 respectively pass and are screwed into the part 18. These bolts 110 and 112 ensure that the part 18 and sleeve 104 would rotate relatively to one another.

There are three bolts 110 and three bolts 112 which alternate angularly around the axis of the part 18 and acting between the part 18 and sleeve 104 and mounted on the bolts 112 are disc springs 114 which urge the part 18 and sleeve 104 apart.

Through the part 18 are a number of radial bores 116 which accompany balls 118. The outer surface of the sleeve 104 is provided with a chamfered portion which as the sleeve 104 moves to the left relatively to the part 18 as viewed in FIG. 3 urges balls 118 into indents 122 in the part 16 so locking the parts 16 and 18 together.

When a work piece 22a is to be rolled by the machine 100 the piston rod 102 is advanced to push the work piece into place. The springs 114 urge the part 18 and sleeve 104 apart until the heads of the bolts 110 and 112 are butt shoulders on the sleeve 104. The balls 118 do not, therefore project radially beyond the part 18.

As the piston rod 102 advances the two parts 16 and 18 butt and form the outer roll. Continued advance of the rod 102 then causes further movement to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 of the sleeve 104 so pressing the springs 114. During this further movement the cam surface 120 forces the balls 118 outwardly into the indents 122 so locking the two parts 16 and 18 together.

At the end of a rolling operation the procedure is of course reversed and the balls unlock the two parts 16 and 18 which can then be separated by retraction of the piston rod 102.

The advantage of this arrangement is that during rolling the force supplied by the piston rod 102 can be smaller than was necessary with the piston rod 41 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 because the hydraulic ram does not have to hold the two parts 16 and 18 together firmly so as to maintain the wedging or locking action of the balls 118 so keeping the two parts 16 and 18 mechanically locked together. Therefore, the hydraulic ram used can be smaller and in addition the mechanical locking is more rigid that could ever be achieved simply by a hydraulic ram.

It will also be noted that the work piece 22a is slightly different from the work piece 22. Thus the outer facing surface of the work piece does not have a part spherical surface. Instead its outer surface is substantially cylindrical with rounded edges 226. In this case the plane of maximum diameter of the outer sufface of the workpiece can be considered to be anywhere along the cylinder part 22c of the outer facing surface. In the machine 100 the die springs however, on the right in each, as viewed in FIG. 3, of this surface 22c.

I claim:

1. A roll forming machine comprising:

a rotatable profiled forming roll, a rotatable outer profiled roll, said profile of said roll having a crosssectional plane with a maximum diameter at plane intermediate the limits of said profile, means for moving said inner and outer forming rolls transversely of their axes of rotation relative to one another during roll forming to form a nip between said rolls in which said workpiece is squeezed to a shape corresponding to the profiles of said inner and outer forming rolls, said outer forming roll being capable of being split into two parts which coincide with said plane of maximum diameter at said profiled rolling surface whereby said two parts of said outer forming roll can be separated after roll forming a workpiece to allow for removal of said shaped workpiece, and

means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during the roll forming of a workpiece.

2. A roll forming machine comprising:

a rotatable profiled forming roll, a rotatable outer profiled forming roll, said profile of said roll having a cross-sectional plane with a maximum diameter at plane intermediate the limits of said profile means for rotating said inner and outer forming rolls during roll forming an initially cylindrical workpiece, means for moving said inner and outer forming rolls transversely of their axes of rotation relative to one another during roll forming to form a nip between said rolls in which said workpiece is squeezed to a shape corresponding to the profiles of said inner and outer forming rolls, said outer forming roll being capable of being split into two parts which coincide with said plane of maximum diameter at said profiled rolling surface whereby said two parts of said outer forming roll can be separated after roll forming a workpiece to allow for removal of said shaped workpiece, and

means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during the roll forming of a workpiece.

3. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 in which said means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together include a hydraulic ram.

4. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 further comprising a mechanical locking means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during rolling, said mechanical locking means being advanced to a locking position by means of a hydraulic ram 5. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 further comprising opposed spring means on each of said parts of said outer forming roll for engaging said workpiece and centering it relative to said profiles on said forming rolls and aligning said axis of said initially cylindrical workpiece with said axes of rotation of said forming rolls.

6. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 further comprising a first flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on one of said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said first member axially of said outer forming roll towards said other part of said outer forming roll, a second flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on the other of said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said second member axially of said outer forming roll towards said first member, whereby said first and second members are adapted to engage and centre a workpiece relative said profiles on said forming rolls.

7. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 in which said profile on said inner forming roll includes, at least one annular hump for forming an annular recess in the inner facing surface of said workpiece and in which said profile on said outer forming roll is part spherical for forming a part spherical surface on the outer facing surface of said workpiece.

8. A roll forming machine comprising:

a rotatable inner profiled forming roll;

means for rotating said inner forming roll; a rotatable outer profiled forming roll, said profile of said roll having a cross-sectional plane with a maximum diameter at a plane intermedial the limits of said profile;

a housing for said outer profiled forming roll, bearing means for rotatably mounting said outer forming roll within said housing;

means for moving the rotational axes of said forming rolls transversely relative to each other to form a nip between said rolls in which a workpiece is squeezed and rolled to a shape corresponding to the profiles of said forming rolls;

said outer forming roll being formed of first and second parts which can be separated by movement relative one another in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said roll, the join between said first and second parts coinciding with said plane of maximum diameter at said profiled rolling surface,

hydraulic ram means for holding said first and second parts together during rolling and withdrawing one of said parts after rolling a workpiece to shape to enable removal of said workpiece.

9. A roll forming machine according to claim 8 further comprising a first flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on one of said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said first member axially of said outer forming roll towards said other part of said outer forming roll, a second flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on the other said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said second member axially of said outer forming roll towards said first member, whereby said first and second members are adapted to engage and centre a workpiece relative said profiles on said forming rolls.

10. A roll forming machine according to claim 8 further comprising a mechanical locking means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during rolling, said mechanical locking means being advanced to a locking position by means of a hydraulic ram. 

1. A roll forming machine comprising: a rotatable profiled forming roll, a rotatable outer profiled roll, said profile of said roll having a cross-sectional plane with a maximum diameter at plane intermediate the limits of said profile, means for moving said inner and outer forming rolls transversely of their axes of rotation relative to one another during roll forming to form a nip between said rolls in which said workpiece is squeezed to a shape corresponding to the profiles of said inner and outer forming rolls, said outer forming roll being capable of being split into two parts which coincide with said plane of maximum diameter at said profiled rolling surface whereby said two parts of said outer forming roll can be separated after roll forming a workpiece to allow for removal of said shaped workpiece, and means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during the roll forming of a workpiece.
 2. A roll forming machine comprising: a rotatable profiled forming roll, a rotatable outer profiled forming roll, said profile of saId roll having a cross-sectional plane with a maximum diameter at plane intermediate the limits of said profile means for rotating said inner and outer forming rolls during roll forming an initially cylindrical workpiece, means for moving said inner and outer forming rolls transversely of their axes of rotation relative to one another during roll forming to form a nip between said rolls in which said workpiece is squeezed to a shape corresponding to the profiles of said inner and outer forming rolls, said outer forming roll being capable of being split into two parts which coincide with said plane of maximum diameter at said profiled rolling surface whereby said two parts of said outer forming roll can be separated after roll forming a workpiece to allow for removal of said shaped workpiece, and means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during the roll forming of a workpiece.
 3. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 in which said means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together include a hydraulic ram.
 4. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 further comprising a mechanical locking means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during rolling, said mechanical locking means being advanced to a locking position by means of a hydraulic ram.
 5. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 further comprising opposed spring means on each of said parts of said outer forming roll for engaging said workpiece and centering it relative to said profiles on said forming rolls and aligning said axis of said initially cylindrical workpiece with said axes of rotation of said forming rolls.
 6. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 further comprising a first flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on one of said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said first member axially of said outer forming roll towards said other part of said outer forming roll, a second flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on the other of said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said second member axially of said outer forming roll towards said first member, whereby said first and second members are adapted to engage and centre a workpiece relative said profiles on said forming rolls.
 7. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 in which said profile on said inner forming roll includes, at least one annular hump for forming an annular recess in the inner facing surface of said workpiece and in which said profile on said outer forming roll is part spherical for forming a part spherical surface on the outer facing surface of said workpiece.
 8. A roll forming machine comprising: a rotatable inner profiled forming roll; means for rotating said inner forming roll; a rotatable outer profiled forming roll, said profile of said roll having a cross-sectional plane with a maximum diameter at a plane intermedial the limits of said profile; a housing for said outer profiled forming roll, bearing means for rotatably mounting said outer forming roll within said housing; means for moving the rotational axes of said forming rolls transversely relative to each other to form a nip between said rolls in which a workpiece is squeezed and rolled to a shape corresponding to the profiles of said forming rolls; said outer forming roll being formed of first and second parts which can be separated by movement relative one another in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said roll, the join between said first and second parts coinciding with said plane of maximum diameter at said profiled rolling surface, hydraulic ram means for holding said first and second parts together during rolling and withdrawing one of said parts after rolling a workpiece to shape to enable removal of said workpiece.
 9. A roll forming machine according to claim 8 further comprising a first flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on one of said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said first member axially of said outer forming roll towards said other part of said outer forming roll, a second flanged sleeve resiliently mounted on the other said parts of said outer forming roll, means for urging said second member axially of said outer forming roll towards said first member, whereby said first and second members are adapted to engage and centre a workpiece relative said profiles on said forming rolls.
 10. A roll forming machine according to claim 8 further comprising a mechanical locking means for holding said two parts of said outer forming roll together during rolling, said mechanical locking means being advanced to a locking position by means of a hydraulic ram. 